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$ THE GLASS FACTORY. $
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#¶#%$\~.,, SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, AND A GIFT SHOP. ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, CONSIDERED POOR. ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, SOME ARE SHATTERED. ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, $$ ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., $$ $$ ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, ~~~~~~~ $ $ ~~~~~~~ ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, $$ $$ ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, $$ ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, LIT FROM BEHIND. ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, $$ ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, $$ $$ ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, ~~~~~~~ $ $ ~~~~~~~ ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., $$ $$ ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, $$ ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, FLOOR. ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, BECOME STILL. ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., $$ ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, $$ $$ ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, ~~~~~~~ $ $ ~~~~~~~ ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, $$ $$ ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., $$ ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND ,,.~\$%#¶#
¶#%$\~.,,, I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE ,,,.~\$%#¶
#¶#%$\~.,, THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? ,,.~\$%#¶#
##¶#%$\~., ,.~\$%#¶##
#¶#%$\~.,, I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. ,,.~\$%#¶#
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